THIRD EYE DROPS Mind Meld 192 | Awakening From the Meaning Crisis with Professor John Vervaeke
Mar 5, 2020
John Vervaeke, a philosophy and cognitive science professor at the University of Toronto, shares his thoughts on the pressing meaning crisis in contemporary society. He discusses the importance of inward-facing practices and mythological contexts for personal growth. The conversation dives into the contrast between rationality and empiricism, exploring how constructive dialogue can enhance self-awareness. Vervaeke advocates for a synthesis of Eastern and Western philosophies to foster collective wisdom and meaningful engagement in today’s world.
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Start By Defining The Problem
- Formulate the problem deeply before solving it because problem-framing guides effective solutions.
- Address both historical causes and cognitive mechanisms to repair the meaning crisis.
Wealth Helps Feeling Good, Not Meaning
- Subjective well-being and meaning are distinct and often confused in culture.
- Wealth boosts well-being up to a point but fails to supply deeper connectedness or purpose.
Having Versus Being Needs
- Humans have 'having' needs and 'being' needs and modern culture overemphasizes having.
- Being needs require becoming, connection, and mutual growth, not mere possession.
